By Christy Tamai
The Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up (NFWP-SU) has initiated discussions with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to strengthen collaboration and improve women’s access to the National Identification Number (NIN) and other identity management services in Plateau State.
The Head of Operations, NFWP-SU, Mr. Rayandy Kim Chuwang, disclosed this during a visit by the programme’s team to the NIMC headquarters in Jos, as part of efforts to establish a working partnership between both institutions.
Chuwang explained that NFWP-SU is focused on institutionalising Women Affinity Groups (WAGs) and other platforms that can create economic opportunities for women, particularly those who remain unbanked.
He noted that access to NIN is critical to the success of women participating in the programme, especially as identification is increasingly required to access financial services and other economic opportunities.
According to him, the partnership with NIMC would help facilitate easier access to NIN and related identification services for women beneficiaries across the state.
Responding, the Plateau State Coordinator of NIMC, Mr. Cosmas Idoku, represented by the Head of Administration, Mrs. Alice Emmanuel, assured the NFWP-SU team of the commission’s readiness to collaborate towards the effective implementation of the programme.
Mrs. Emmanuel disclosed that NIMC Desk Officers are available across all 17 Local Government Areas of Plateau State to assist citizens requiring identification services.
She further clarified that NIMC services are generally free of charge, while noting that certain services, including modification and verification applications, attract prescribed fees.
Also speaking, a technical staff of NIMC, Mr. Kabang Kefas, explained that the commission has advanced technology capable of retrieving identification details through fingerprint scanning.
Kefas assured the NFWP-SU team of the availability of technical support from relevant NIMC desk officers whenever required.
The meeting, held at the NIMC headquarters in Jos, underscored the importance of inter-agency collaboration in removing identification barriers and improving women’s access to economic empowerment opportunities under the NFWP-SU.
The partnership is expected to support efforts to ensure that more women participating in the programme can obtain the necessary identification required to access financial and other services.
